We had no other option but to gun down ‘Mohawk’, KWS Narrates

Following the complain that sparked by the killing of a lion in Isinya yesterday, KWS has sought to justify the actions of its rangers stating that the decision was taken as a last resort to safeguard public safety.

KWS Corporate Communications Manager Paul Udoto explained that rangers who had been deployed to gunned down the lion named ‘Mohawk’ to avoid further injuries to other people after it wounded a motorcyclist had no tranquilizers and had to wait for a team from Nairobi more than 40 kilometers away before the situation turned ugly.

“At about 10.30am members of the public surrounded the area where the lion was, which was about 7km from Isinya Town, on the Isinya-Kiserian road. The lion which was lying down got scared from the many shouting people who had surrounded it. The lion carcass has since been disposed off in Nairobi National Park.” He narrated

He indicated that the lion was identified as a predominant male named ‘Mohawk” and had been involved in territorial fights in the last couple of weeks.

Isinya is about 30-40 kilometers to the south of the park free of fencing which is part of the seasonal migration area, and Mohawk was trying to establish new territory. The KWS statement said the lion was aged 13 years and was born in Nairobi National Park.

The motorcyclist who was wounded by the lion was identified as Evans Mburu Murigi and he’s being treated at the Isinya District Hospital